History Literature / AlexVerus

** [[NobleDemon Cinder]] and [[spoiler: [[BigBad Richard Drakh]]]].
** Morden is definitely this, since he's usually very pleasant and polite towards Alex. This doesn't stop him from being a ruthless Dark mage who keeps slaves, or kill those who get in his way.

* SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining: As it turns out, [[spoiler:Alex did. When he loses his divination for a time in ''Cursed'', it becomes very apparent that he is unable to make logical connections and even ''walk straight without stumbling'' without his magic telling him what to avoid.]]

** Luna has shades of this, once her personality is flushed out beyond having a curse. She's not cruel or mean-spirited but she'll call you an idiot for not playing a board game correctly.

** Onyx becmae a really powerful Chosen to Morden. In exchange, he lost most of his intelligence and the ability to not anger and kill random people.

* TheyLookLikeEveryoneElse: Richard Drakh doesn't look impressive or imposing, and looks rather ordinary. His mage name doesn't distinguish his magic type either, or is in any way outspoken. That does not mean he should be underestimated - he is the top dog among Dark mages for a reason.

* AxCrazy: Deleo, who can barely go anywhere without killing someone. She's so batshit insane that divination doesn't work on her. Onyx is a more subdued example, but he always responds to something gettign on his nerves by smashing it, hurting it or flat-out killing it. Lots of things get on his nerves. Both their mentors, Richard and Morden respectively, are rather disappointed in how their chosen turned out.

* DubMuscle: Onyx doesn't use his brain often. He's a violent thug who uses his magic to smash through his problems. He's still a threat because he's one of the more powerful combat mages in the series.

* KnightTemplar: Several on the Light Council are this, especiallly when fighting against Dark mages. They belive that they are in theg right and the only thing protecting Britain from malevolent forces. The most prominent example is Sal Sarque, who attacks Alex constantly with extreme prejudice, due to believing him a Dark mage working with Morden and Richard willingly. He's willing to gun down a bunch of innocent mages and adepts if he thinks they're aligned with other Dark mages. Caldera is also to be shown one in later volumes, willing to go for extremes to nab possible culprits, uncaring if those same culprits had reasonable motives.

* DirtyCoward: A space mage called Symmaris in ''Burned'', who is terrified of stepping into Alex' store for fear of him murdering her, but she has no qualms [[spoiler:gating waves upon waves of gunmen into his home to kill him in his sleep.]]

* ArmorPiercingAttack: This is why Life mages are considered scarier than the average mage. Their life magic and TouchofDeath can get through an elemental mages shields, as if they weren't there.

* TookALevelInBadass: Alex has never quite been a wimp, but by ''Marked'', he has become noticeably more confident, composed and powerful. Fending off assassinations and power plays on a daily basis for the better part of a year will do that to a guy. //[[spoiler: He takes another one in ''Fallen'' when he takes the Fateweaver, the MacGuffin of book one. Then he slaughters Onyx' whole gang, and fights and kills Onyx one-on-one. TO put in perspective, Onyx is one of the most poweerful combat mages in the books.]]
* TookALevelInJerkass: Anne and Sonder starting with the Aftermath of ''Chosen''. Anne's reaction is {{justified}} because [[spoiler: it unpleasantly reminded her of her own DarkAndTroubledPast]]. Sonder's reaction... not so much. Especially when Alex points out the [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocrisy]] of it by pointing out that Sonder apparently was fine with Alex killing people when it was Sonder's own life on the line. \\He also becomes more ruthless in ''Fallen'', when he realizes that he can't play nice anymore, and that he'll have to take power to survive [[spoiler: and to save Anne when her DemonicPossession with the jinn becomes complete.}}
** To a lesser extent, Alex himself, starting with the middle of ''Chosen'' and apparently ending with [[spoiler: the end of ''Hidden'']]. His interactions with people who stood by his side for the last three books seems very abrasive. He got better, though. This is actually pretty justified, though, as the possibility of his [[spoiler: EvilMentor Richard Drakh being alive and well is wearing on his nerves.]]

* TookALevelInBadass: Alex has never quite been a wimp, but by ''Marked'', he has become noticeably more confident, composed and powerful. Fending off assassinations and power plays on a daily basis for the better part of a year will do that to a guy.// [[spoiler: He takes another one in ''Fallen'' when he takes the Fateweaver, the MacGuffin of book one. Then he slaughters Onyx' whole gang, and fights and kills Onyx one-on-one. TO put in perspective, Onyx is one of the most poweerful combat mages in the books.]]
* TookALevelInJerkass: Anne and Sonder starting with the Aftermath of ''Chosen''. Anne's reaction is {{justified}} because [[spoiler: it unpleasantly reminded her of her own DarkAndTroubledPast]]. Sonder's reaction... not so much. Especially when Alex points out the [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocrisy]] of it by pointing out that Sonder apparently was fine with Alex killing people when it was Sonder's own life on the line.\\ He also becomes more ruthless in ''Fallen'', when he realizes that he can't play nice anymore, and that he'll have to take power to survive [[spoiler: and to save Anne when her DmonicPossession becomes complete.}}

* TookALevelInBadass: Alex has never quite been a wimp, but by ''Marked'', he has become noticeably more confident, composed and powerful. Fending off assassinations and power plays on a daily basis for the better part of a year will do that to a guy.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Anne and Sonder starting with the Aftermath of ''Chosen''. Anne's reaction is {{justified}} because [[spoiler: it unpleasantly reminded her of her own DarkAndTroubledPast]]. Sonder's reaction... not so much. Especially when Alex points out the [[{{Hypocrite}} hypocrisy]] of it by pointing out that Sonder apparently was fine with Alex killing people when it was Sonder's own life on the line.

** Caldera also becomes one in later books. She has no problem arresting Alex when the Council orders her to, and when Alex got away from her she blames Alex. She also trns a blind eye to the shadier sides of the council, and dismisses some of their worst actions [[spoiler;like trying to bomb Luna if Alex didn't surrender himself. She's also the one who reveals the truth of what happened at San Vittore, and that Dark!Anne is responsible. Not for any act of greater goodness, but to due blind loyalty to her job, her ego and taking Alex down a peg. The she spends the remainder of the novel focusing on re-capturing Alex. Most fans are sick of her zealous, hypocrtical attitude.]]

* Knight Templar: Several on the Light Council are this, especiallly when fighting against Dark mages. They belive that they are in theg right and the only thing protecting Britain from malevolent forces. The most prominent example is Sal Sarque, who attacks Alex constantly with extreme prejudice, due to believing him a Dark mage working with Morden and Richard willingly. He's willing to gun down a bunch of innocent mages and adepts if he thinks they're aligned with other Dark mages. Caldera is also to be shown one in later volumes, willing to go for extremes to nab possible culprits, uncaring if those same culprits had reasonable motives.

* WrongContextMagic: [[spoiler:One of the reasons Richard Drakh is so unnerving is that his magic makes no sense. He should not be able to do the things he does and considering he spent ten years in another world, it's entirely possible that his powers are literally out of this world.]]

* ArmorPiercingAttack: This is why Life mages are considered scarier than the average mage. Their life magic and Touch of Death can get through an elemental mages shields, as if they weren't there.

* AffablyEvil: [[NobleDemon Cinder]] and [[spoiler: [[BigBad Richard Drakh]]]]. Morden is definitely this, since he's usually very pleasant and polite towards Alex. This doesn't stop him from being a ruthless Dark mage who keeps slaves, or kill those who get in his way.

* BenevolentBoss: Surprisingly, Morden is this to Alex. One of the most powerful Dark Mages in the country, allied with Richard [[spoiler:and forcing Alex to work for both of them with a suspended death sentence]], he doesn't belittle or bully Alex. He shows trust and appreciation towards Alex abilities as his aide, explains thigs to Alex when he doesn't understand something, and listens to Alex's input. He treats Alex much better than most Light mages do.

* Armor-PiercingAttack: This is why Life mages are considered scarier than the average mage. Their life magic and Touch of Death can get through an elemental mages shields, as if they weren't there.

* Armor-Piercing Attack: This is why Life mages are considered scarier than the average mage. Their life magic and Touch of Death can get through an elemental mages shields, as if they weren't there.
* AffablyEvil: [[NobleDemon Cinder]] and [[spoiler: [[BigBad Richard Drakh]]]].
** Morden is definitely this, since he's usually very pleasant and polite towards Alex. This doesn't stop him from being a ruthless Dark mage who keeps slaves, or kill those who get in his way.

* Benevolent Boss: Surprisingly, Morden is this to Alex. One of the most powerful Dark Mages in the country, allied with Richard [[spoiler:and forcing Alex to work for both of them with a suspended death sentence]], he doesn't belittle or bully Alex. He shows trust and appreciation towards Alex abilities as his aide, explains thigs to Alex when he doesn't understand something, and listens to Alex's input. He treats Alex much better than most Light mages do.
* Berserk Button: Deleo/Rachel has tons, due to being crazier than a shithouse rat. Chief among them are Alex's existence, mentioning Shireen, and calling her by her original name.

* Corrupt Politician: Many mages on the Light Council, including in the Senior Council. Levistus is only the most prominent example. We see more of them in ''Marked''

** In ''Bound'' we meet a Force/Light hybrid mage called Lightbringer who can turn light into solid objects. [[GreenLantern What does this remind you of?]]